La Liga Review and Preview for Match day 6

Normal service resumed once more at the Camp Nou last night with Leo Messi getting on the scorer’s sheet after his blank night in Madrid (Campo de futbol de Vallecas) last Saturday. Barcelona defeated Real Sociedad 4-1 with Brazilian wizkid Neymar getting his first primera goal together with Busquets and Bartra adding the remainders. The dramatic moment came when Messi showed petulance at being substituted by coach Tata Martino. Though both parties have played it down,we expect to see more reaction in the coming weeks.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid also stayed perfect thanks to goals by Diego Costa in a 2-1 win against Osasuna, giving it 18 points, although Barcelona stay top with its better goal differential. Costa scored his sixth league goal of the season for Atletico when he deftly flicked in a cross in the 18th, and he then doubled his tally with a sublime header from a Koke assist. Oriol Rieira pulled one back for Osasuna in the 43rd. Atletico coach Diego Simeone chose to rest striker David Villa and began with Leo Baptistao and Diego Costa.

Elsewhere, Levante drew 1-1 with Valladolid. Baba Diawara opened the scoring for Levante in the 35th minute and Javier Guerra equalized six minutes later. Malaga beat Almeria 2-0 with goals by Fernando Tissone and Francisco Portillo.

On Wednesday, title contenders Real Madrid travels to Elche without world record signing Gareth Bale who is slightly injured. Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Isco will be involved at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero. The new Madrid sensation played 84 minutes in Real’s derby win over neighbours Getafe on Sunday. Luka Modric is expected to start as the Croatian midfielder has been an essential player in Ancelotti’s plans. Illarramendi’s performance against Getafe was brilliant, so he could keep hold of his place in the starting XI.

With El Derbi madrileño coming up, it is important to give him more game time and give rest to the more experienced Khedira who should back to the XI for that much-more difficult game. Ancelotti has recovered Fàbio Coentrao and Raphäel Varane, and he should be really happy about that. This would be a good match to give them playing time again. Varane has recently recovered from a knee injury, but he should not be in trouble against Del Moral and the rest of Elche’s offensive line, so the French defender could use this game to get back in shape quickly. If the same happens with Coentrao, Arbeloa could get some rest as well. A win for the away side in my opinion.

In Andalusia, Sevilla hosts Rayo Vallecano at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has given his support to coach Unai Emery, even though the club find themselves bottom of the Primera Division table. Los Nervionenses are still without a win so far this season, drawing two and losing three of their opening five matches, but Emery has received a vote of confidence ahead of Wednesday’s clash with fellow strugglers Rayo Vallecano.

Sevilla will be without midfielder Victor Machin ‘Vitolo’ for the visit of Rayo after he was ruled out for 10 days after pulling a hamstring. He joins the already injured Diego Perroti, Fabricio Fazio and Daniel Carrico on the sidelines. Emery can count on the services of centre-back Nico Pareja who returns to the squad a month after fracturing his shoulder in the first game of the season while Denis Cheryshev and Jose Antonio Reyes are expected to be available too.

Rayo midfielder Alberto Perea, whose side have just one more point than their opponents, admits he is surprised by Sevilla’s poor start to the season. Rayo go into the game on the back of a 4-0 defeat at home to league leaders Barcelona, their fourth straight loss. The Vallecanos have no fresh injury concerns for the match, and winger Lass Bangoura returns after completing a suspension.

Granada host Valencia at Los Carmenes tonight. Granada have not managed a win since opening day, the lone win away to Osasuna has been the only real performance from them. Draws at Celta and Betis were hard, battling efforts but they never offered much going forward in either game. Defeats at home to Espanyol and Real Madrid made it 3 games from 5 without scoring. Key midfielder Piti is out and will be missed as he is an influential player.

Valencia finally showed some fight on the pitch with a deserved 3-1 home win over Sevilla. It moves them to 10th with 2 wins and 3 defeats. After a run of four straight defeats in which they conceded 12 goals coach Milan Dukic was coming under some severe pressure. The win at the weekend gives him a little breathing space. These are not happy moments at the Mestalla, Adil Rami stoked up the fire yesterday evening with a public protest against his coach and teammates. The Frenchman had travelled out with the squad for this midweek’s clash at Granada but has been sent home following his outburst. Oriol Romeu joined the squad as his replacement.

Realistically, do Atletico Madrid have a chance of breaking the duopoly of the two Spanish giants? How long will Real Madrid fans wait before they get to see the best from their new man – Gareth Bale. Please use the column beneath. Thank you.